Midzor
Encyclopedia
Midžor is a peak in the Balkan Mountains
, situated on the border between Bulgaria
and Serbia
. At 2169 metres (7,116 ft), it is the highest peak of the Western Balkan Mountains
, as well as of Central Serbia
The highest peak of Serbia is officially Đeravica in the Prokletije
mountain range at 2656 metres (8,714 ft), but is located in Kosovo
. If Kosovo is not included, than Midžor is the highest peak of Serbia.. Midžor is the 12th highest peak in the Balkan Mountains.
and Gorni Lom
in Vidin Province
.
there are two possibilities for climbing. There is a 17 km dirt road following the river Chprenska to the Gorski Ray refuge (1,450 m) or a 9 km foot track following the river Manastirska.
From the refuge there is a marked track which passes through the Chuprene biosphere reserve and leads to the main summit on a saddle between the peaks Replyanska Tsarkva (1,969 m) and Ostra Chuka (1967 m). To the south east through the peaks Ostra Chuka and Oba (2,033 m) the track reaches a saddle from where the Lom River
and the Timok
flow out at border stone 336. From there Midžor can be climbed from the north-western slope.
is located the Gorni Lom refuge (840 m). There is also another refuge upstream called Midžor. There are steep tracks from there leading to the saddle between Oba and Midžor at border stone 336 from where the both tracks from the two villages merge.
is at the foot of the peak. A cascade of small hydroelectric power plants is in operation on the river near Midžor and four more are under construction. Chuprene biosphere reserve which is under the protection of UNESCO
is situated to the west of the peak. It is one of the last sanctuaries in Bulgaria where the Capercaillie
nests.
A special permission from border police Sofia
is required in order to ascend to the peak.
, placed in the center of Serbian Stara Planina, between Tri Čuke (1936 m) on SE side and Babin Zub (1758 m) on SW side. The massif of Midžor peak is very large. Its western, eastern and southern slopes are grassy and not so steep, while its northern side is rocky and very steep. This side is also most attractive and very popular among rock climbers.
It is the highest peak in Serbia outside of Kosovo
, and the 24th highest in whole of Serbia if Kosovo is includedSee: List of mountains in Serbia#Peaks over 2000 meters.
There is a hotel "Babin Zub" in the slopes. There are no fees or permits needed to enter the Serbian Stara Planina.
References
Balkan Mountains
The Balkan mountain range is a mountain range in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. The Balkan range runs 560 km from the Vrashka Chuka Peak on the border between Bulgaria and eastern Serbia eastward through central Bulgaria to Cape Emine on the Black Sea...
, situated on the border between Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
and Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
. At 2169 metres (7,116 ft), it is the highest peak of the Western Balkan Mountains
Balkan Mountains
The Balkan mountain range is a mountain range in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. The Balkan range runs 560 km from the Vrashka Chuka Peak on the border between Bulgaria and eastern Serbia eastward through central Bulgaria to Cape Emine on the Black Sea...
, as well as of Central Serbia
Central Serbia
Central Serbia , also referred to as Serbia proper , was the region of Serbia from 1945 to 2009. It included central parts of Serbia outside of the autonomous provinces of Kosovo and Vojvodina. The region of Central Serbia was not an administrative division of Serbia as such; it was under the...
The highest peak of Serbia is officially Đeravica in the Prokletije
Prokletije
Prokletije or Albanian Alps is a mountain range in the Balkans that extends from northern Albania, to southwestern Serbia and eastern Montenegro. Its highest point, Jezercë in Albania at , is the tallest peak in the entire Dinaric Alps...
mountain range at 2656 metres (8,714 ft), but is located in Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
. If Kosovo is not included, than Midžor is the highest peak of Serbia.. Midžor is the 12th highest peak in the Balkan Mountains.
Bulgaria
Since the early 1990s, Midžor has been accessible to tourists from both sides; previously, access was forbidden due to the peak being in the border area. Due to those restrictions, the nature around the peak has been preserved untouched. On the Bulgarian side, the peak is reachable from the villages of ChupreneChuprene
Chuprene is a village in northwestern Bulgaria, part of Vidin Province. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Chuprene Municipality, which lies in the southern part of Vidin Province...
and Gorni Lom
Gorni Lom
Gorni Lom is a village in north-western Bulgaria, Vidin Province. The population of Gorni Lom is 784.The village is situated in a mountainous region, on the upper stream of the Lom River. It is located in the foot of Midzhur, the highest peak in western Stara Planina. Gorni Lom is a starting point...
in Vidin Province
Vidin Province
Vidin Province is the northwesternmost province of Bulgaria. It borders Serbia to the west and Romania to the northeast. Its administrative centre is the city of Vidin on the Danube river. The area is divided into 11 municipalities...
.
Chuprene
From ChupreneChuprene
Chuprene is a village in northwestern Bulgaria, part of Vidin Province. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Chuprene Municipality, which lies in the southern part of Vidin Province...
there are two possibilities for climbing. There is a 17 km dirt road following the river Chprenska to the Gorski Ray refuge (1,450 m) or a 9 km foot track following the river Manastirska.
From the refuge there is a marked track which passes through the Chuprene biosphere reserve and leads to the main summit on a saddle between the peaks Replyanska Tsarkva (1,969 m) and Ostra Chuka (1967 m). To the south east through the peaks Ostra Chuka and Oba (2,033 m) the track reaches a saddle from where the Lom River
Lom River
The Lom is a river in northwestern Bulgaria, a right tributary of the Danube flowing into it 1 km east of the town of Lom.The river takes its source from the foot of Midzhur , the highest peak of western Stara Planina, on the Bulgarian-Serbian border, and mainly flows northeast until its...
and the Timok
Timok
-Places:*Timočka Krajina, a region in Serbia*Timok , a river in Serbia and Bulgaria**Beli Timok, a river in Serbia**Trgoviški Timok, a river in Serbia**Svrljiški Timok, a river in Serbia**Crni Timok, a river in Serbia-Other:...
flow out at border stone 336. From there Midžor can be climbed from the north-western slope.
Gorni Lom
At 7 km from the village of Gorni LomGorni Lom
Gorni Lom is a village in north-western Bulgaria, Vidin Province. The population of Gorni Lom is 784.The village is situated in a mountainous region, on the upper stream of the Lom River. It is located in the foot of Midzhur, the highest peak in western Stara Planina. Gorni Lom is a starting point...
is located the Gorni Lom refuge (840 m). There is also another refuge upstream called Midžor. There are steep tracks from there leading to the saddle between Oba and Midžor at border stone 336 from where the both tracks from the two villages merge.
Economy
The source of the Lom RiverLom River
The Lom is a river in northwestern Bulgaria, a right tributary of the Danube flowing into it 1 km east of the town of Lom.The river takes its source from the foot of Midzhur , the highest peak of western Stara Planina, on the Bulgarian-Serbian border, and mainly flows northeast until its...
is at the foot of the peak. A cascade of small hydroelectric power plants is in operation on the river near Midžor and four more are under construction. Chuprene biosphere reserve which is under the protection of UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
is situated to the west of the peak. It is one of the last sanctuaries in Bulgaria where the Capercaillie
Capercaillie
The Western Capercaillie , also known as the Wood Grouse, Heather Cock or Capercaillie , is the largest member of the grouse family, reaching over 100 cm in length and 6.7 kg in weight. The largest one ever recorded in captivity had a weight of 7.2 kg....
nests.
A special permission from border police Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
is required in order to ascend to the peak.
Serbia
The extreme peak of the western mountain is north of village Topli DolTopli Dol
Topli Dol is a village in the municipality of Surdulica, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the village has a population of 122 people....
, placed in the center of Serbian Stara Planina, between Tri Čuke (1936 m) on SE side and Babin Zub (1758 m) on SW side. The massif of Midžor peak is very large. Its western, eastern and southern slopes are grassy and not so steep, while its northern side is rocky and very steep. This side is also most attractive and very popular among rock climbers.
It is the highest peak in Serbia outside of Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
, and the 24th highest in whole of Serbia if Kosovo is includedSee: List of mountains in Serbia#Peaks over 2000 meters.
There is a hotel "Babin Zub" in the slopes. There are no fees or permits needed to enter the Serbian Stara Planina.
External links
Footnotes
NotesReferences